Coin-controlled mechanism for turnstiles.



J. W. BATES.

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISNI FOR TURNSTILES. APPLICATION FILED Auc.3I. I9I4.

J. W. BATES.

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR TURNSTILES.

APPLICATION F|LED AuG.31, w14.

1,271,651. Patented July 9,1918.

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j. W. BATES.

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR TURNSTILES.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.aI, 1914.

JOSEPH WILLIAM BATES, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

COIN-CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR TURNSTILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1918.

Application filed August 31, 1914. Serial No. 859,272.

To all whom z' may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH .WILLIAM Barns, a citizen of the United. States, resident of Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Mechanism, for Turnstiles, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in coin controlled mechanism for turnstiles so arranged that before the turnstile can be operated a coin of the properv denomination must be placed in the machine and a lever operated by the attendant, which causes the coin to be deposited in a coin receptacle and releases a device that is engaged by the turnstile, thereby permitting the turnstile to turn one step to permit the passage of a single person. The mechanism is then automatically re-set and locked and cannot be again operated evenby the attendant until another coin has been deposited.

The invention consists generally in the constructions and combinations hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a vertical section, of a device embodying my invention, the lower part being broken away,

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2--2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow,

Fig. 8 is a section on the same line as Fig. 2, but showing the parts in different position,

Fig. 4: is a section on line 41-4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the arrangement of the star wheel and the lever that is operated by the attendant to release the star wheel after the deposit of the coin.

Fig. 6 is a plan viewshowing the arrangement of a turnstile in connection with the coin-controlled mechanism,

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the mechanism partly broken away,

Fig. 8 is a detail sliowingnthe arrangement of the adjustable controlling plate, adjusted to receive a fifty-cent coin, I

Fig. 9 is a similar view of the same device adjusted to receive a twenty-ive-cent coin,

Fig. 10 is a detail of the lower part of the base showing the manner in which the two parts are overlapped and united,

Fig. 11 is a plan view and Fig. 12 a side elevation of one of the guards on the cover showing means for regulating the length and width of the receiving slot.

Fig. 18 is a detail showing a counter.

In all of the drawings, 2 represents the casing in which the mechanism is inclosed. This casing is preferably divided into an upper and a lower chamber by a horizontal partition 3. The lower chamber has preferably a door or removable panel l through which accessmay be had to the interior of the. chamber. The Y lower chamber is designed to contain a coinreceptacle or money boX 5 having at the top one or more coinreceiving openings 6 and coin guides 7 The horizontal partition Sis provided with an opening .8 above each of the coin guides '7. The upper chamber contains the coincontrolled mechanism proper. and this mechanism is preferably mounted upon a suitable base 9 and is entirely disconnected'from the casing 2, so that it may readily be removed therefrom by lifting the same out through the top of the casing. f

The casing is provided with a removable cover 10, which may be secured thereto by any suitable means. Thisl top plate 10 is provided with coin-receiving slots ,11 and guards 12, the openings at the bottom of the guards being of suitable size tov correspond to the size of the coin intended to be inserted through such guard. The cover is also preferably provided with a raised central portion 13 in the rear of said guards 12, which forms a recess upon the under side of the vcover into which the'controlling plate for the locking dog may rise as hereinafter described. i

The base 9 of the coin-controlled mechanism is preferably formed of two overlapping parts as shown by the detailed view, Fig. 10. Each part of said base is provided with an upright frame consisting preferably of a vertical standard 14, the substantially X-shaped standard 15 and the transverse top bar 16. These parts are all preferably formed integrally with the section of the base 9.

The ends of the bars 16 are preferably connected by a plate 16. Bearings 17 are preferably formed near the center of the standards 15, and in these bearings is mounted a horizontal 'shaft 18, which carries near its end, outside of the casing 2, a star-wheel 19. The turnstile is provided with an upright shaft 20 and with a series of hori- Zontal arins 21. The' turnstile is arranged to be rotated in the direction of the arrow a, Fig. 6. .The end of each arm 21, as -the turnstile is rotated, cornes in contact with one of the of tliefstai--wheel 19. Said turn-` stile canbe turned only whenthe star-wheel is released.

Mounted upon the shaft'18 is a disk 22 having a series of ratchet teeth 23 upon its circumference. These ratchet teeth correspond iii-'number to the arms of the starwheel`19. A looking dog 21 is' pivot'ed upon a vrod 25 Connecting the upper ends of the standards 14. The end of this dog rests by gravity upon the edge of the wheel 22 and is adapted to engage the ratchet teeth 23, and, when in venga'ggernent with any one of saidy teeth, to prevent the shaft 18, the starwheel 19, andthe turn' stile, from turning.

A rock shaft 26 extending parallel to the shaft 18 is mounted in suitable lugs 27 upon the baseA 9. A ratchet wheel 2s is secured upon rthe shaft '18 preferably near one end thereof.v A dog29 is pivotally supported upon thesliaft .96, and arranged in positiou to engage the ratchet wheel 28, locking said wheel and `the shaft 1s at all times against backward movement.

' [Arranged beneath each of the Vcoin-receiving 'slots' 11, in the cover or top plate ofthe casing, is a coin-receiving waylpreerably formed by twov parallel plates 30 aud Si ai ranged with a space between theni of sufli- 32, which forms a support for the coin when is dropped into the machine as shownY in Fig. 4i of the drawings. A push plate 33 is arranged in the coin way and is adapted to slide forward and backl therein'. Its 'normal position is shown in Fig. 4p It is here shown at the rear end of the( way, permitting the coin to be dropped into the in front of said push plate. Upright arms 34" are secured to the shaft 2o. These arms extend to the upper end of' thefrainc of the inachine'and support at their upper ends transverse rod 35, which passes tliroi'igli' tliepus'hpniate 33. r The shaft 2o is also' provided Awith a lever 3o arranged @site the @ses 2j, Shown in .Fis 1 of the drawings. This lever is irl position to be grasped by the attendant and to be moved for the purpose of rocking the shaft 26. The cross-bars 16 of the machine frame are provided with horizontal slots 37 and the walls of the coin` ways are provided with similar slots (see Fig. 3). The rod 35 extends through these slots, which permit said rod to lnove forward and back reciprocating the push plate 33 in the coin way. Arranged with their rupper ends in the same l, vertical plane withv the coin ways are the coin chutes 38. The upper ends of these coin chutes coincide with the forward end of the coin ways, and the lower ends of said chutes come over the openings 8 in the partition 3. The bottone 32 of eaoh of 'these coin ways terminates at the edge of the ooi',-V responding' coin chute; asshown in Fig; 4 o f the drawing. Connected with each side of the dogsic is a controlling plate 39. These plates project forward into the coin ways and 'extend above the upper ends of the coin chutes. The forward end of each plate 39 is curved and recessed preferably vas shown in Fig. 210i the drawings. When the arms 3tare'rocled the push plates 33 move forward in the coin ways and push the coin, which may be resting* on the bottom 32 in said way' in front of the push plate, under the oontrollilrlgl plate 39, causing said plate to rise, carryingwith it the end of the dog 24e and lifting the end of said dog free from the ratchet toothfor projection 23 on thewheel 22, thus leaving said wheehthe shaft 18,-' theA star-wheel 19, and the turnstile, all free to turn. As the coin is moved forward it will pass intofthe recessed portion of the plate 39 as indicated by dotted lines Vin yFig. 3.

I provide nieans for holding the coin in the coinciding portions of the coin way and coin chute, with the controlling plate 39 in the position to which it is raised by said echi, until tlie star-wheel and otherl parte moving therewith have been rotated: here shown this means consists of a series of laterally projecting arms et() on the wheel 22. 'lh'ei-e are as many of these 1i-nis ou each side of the wheel 22 there arev arms on the star-wheel 19. As shown in Fig'.V 1 of the drawings a recess 11 is provided extending across the coin chute 38, and into this recess the ends of the arms 10 project. When the parts are in normal position the end of one of-the arinsd() projects into the coin chute and stands in position to hold the coin after it has been pushed forward with' the controlling 4plate 39 in an elevated position. (See Fig. 3). The parts remain in this po! sition until thewpersoii passing? the turnstile in the direction indicated by' the arrow Y) in Fig. 6 of the drawings, tuliis the' starw'hee'l 19 and the wheel 22 one step. As soon as `the atan e0 passes from under' the coin resting thereon said coin drops down into and through the coin chute 8 into the box 5. As-soon as the coin drops from the position shown in Fig. 3 down the chute the plate 39 and the dog 24 also drop, bringing the end of the dog 24 into contact with the periphery of the disk 22, and causing it to engage the next shoulder or ratchet tooth 23, on said disk 22, and thereby preventing further movement of said disk, the shaft 18, star-wheel 19, and the turnstile. Further movement of these parts is prevented until another coin is dropped into the machine and the lever 36 is pulled forward by the attendant so as to push the coin along in the coin way under the controlling plate 39, to raise the dog 24 from engagement with the tooth on the disk 22.

In the operation of the machine it is intended that the attendant shall pull forward the lever 36 thereby pushing the coin into position to unlock the disk 22 and the starwheel, and thereby to release theturnstile. After the attendant brings forward the lever 36 it is intended that he shall release the same and that said lever and the push plates 33 shall be automatically returned to their original position. I prefer to provide means by which this operation will be automatically performed as soon as the turnstile has been moved suficiently to operate the kstarwheel. l

Secured to the rock shaft 26 is a block 42 provided with arms 43 and 44 extending from the main part of the block in directions substantially at right angles to each other. The end of the arm 43 has a `screw-threaded hole through it, and a set-screw 45 is arranged in said hole. An arm 46 having a weighted end 47 is pivoted upon astandard 48 and is provided with a heel 49 that projects beneath the arm 43 and is adapted to be engaged by the end of the set-screw 45. Iivoted `upon the arm 44 on the block 42 is a bell crank lever 50` having at the end of one arm a hook .51 adapted to engage 'the top of a block 52. A spring 53 is provided on the pivot of the bell-crank 50 and said spring tends to hold the end of the hook 51 in contact with the top of the block 52, and to cause said hook to engage said block whenever it is moved forward a sufficient distance` to permit such engagement. The operation of this part of the device is as follows:

Then the shaft 26 is rocked by the attendants pulling forward the arm 36 the end of the screw 45 will press down on the rear end 49 ofthe arm 46, raising the weighted end of said arm and moving the parts into the'position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The end of the hook 51 will slide over the top of the block 52 and will engagethe top of said block as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawin s. This will lock the parts in the position s own in Fig. 3. When the parts stand in this position the upright arm of the bell crank 5() will project into the path of one of the laterally extending arms 40 on the disk 22. As the disk 22 is rotated by the action of the turnstile, one of the arms 40 on said disk will engage the upright arm of the bell crank 50 and will raise the hook 51 out of engagement with the upper end of the block 52. r1`he weight 47 will now descend, and the action of this weight through the rearwardly projecting end 49 of the arm 46, engaged by the end of the setscrew 45 will rock the shaft 26, thereby moving the parts back into normal position, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, with the push-plate in the coin way in position to permit the insertion of a coin in front of said plate. The parts will now all be in position for the insertion of another coin.

It may sometimes happen that the arm 36 will be moved forward so as to bring the parts into the position shown in Fig. 3, when a coin has not been deposited in the machine. For the purpose of releasing the parts if they get into this position I provide a connection, preferably a Wire 54, that has its lower end connected with the bell crank 50 and its upper end extending through a hole or recess in the top plate 10 of the cas ing. If the partsl get into the position shown in Fig. 3 whenthere is no coin in the machine, they can be restored to the position shown in Fig. 2 by pulling on the wire 54, thereby lifting the hooked end of the bell crank 50, permitting the weighted end of the arm 46 to drop down into the position shown in Fig. 2, and' moving the other parts operating therewith into the position shown infsaid Fig. 2.

lIt may sometimes happen that a' person passing the turnstile does not'turn said stile the entire distance to which it should be turned to' completely operate the star-wheel 19. I, therefore,- preferably provide the shaft 18 with a ratchet wheel 55 having a number of teeth corresponding to the number of arms on the star-wheel (see Fig. 5), and I provide an arm 56 on the rock shaft 26 which carries at its upper end a pawl 57 whose end rests upon the edge of the ratchet wheel 55. If, in the operation of the turnstile, the star-wheel 19, shaft 18 and disk 22, have not been turned the exactdistance required to bring the shoulder or ratchet tooth 23 against the end of the dog 24, and the arm 40 in proper position to support the coin lnext inserted, these parts will be moved by the engagement of the dog 57 with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 55, the next time the arm 36 is-moved forward by the attendant.

I have shown in the drawings. a machine constructed with two coin receiving devices, and adapted to be operated when a coin is inserted in either of the coin ways. As this machine isy constructed it 'is intended to 1D 3.6 `and the .person whohas paid the tee can lthen turn the. turnstile :and pass into the inclosure.

If a child, or person lwho is entitled to admissionv for .a twenty-'tive' cent tee, desires .15 to enter, he will hand the attendant a tiventy-iive'eent piece The attendant 'will deposit this in the other .opening and will null the lever 3 6 as before, thereby, through the coin, releasing the star-Wheel and permitting the personvvho has paidthe fee to pass the turnstile. The machine may, however, be .constructed .as a Signalev machine With only one coin-receiving opening and one set of operating devices, 'and it can then be operated only when a coin of the properI denomination has been Ypresented to the attendant and he has droppedthe same into the receiving opening,*and has drawn forward the level 36 thereby re- .3.0 leasing the parts and leaving the turnstile free .to be' turned a quarter revolution.

Instead of having two coin-receiving openings, I may provide three, or more, said openings' being arranged .to receive coins of suitable denominations, and, if 'preferred, one of the openings may be .arranged to receive checks made of .aluminum or other material and issued' to persons who are entitled to enter the inc losure or pass I' .4.0 the tnrnstile Without the payment of money.

This machine is designed to. vbe fused, `among other places, at state and county fairs, expositions, etc. It sometimes occurs that dierent fees are charged .for admisl .4.5 sion o adults and children, In' such case the .double machine is an advantage.V It sometimesv occurs also. that employees and eX- hibitors are entitled to enter Without the payment of money. In such case the nia- 1.5.0 chine may be provided With a third receiv- 1 5,0 and the vcontrcall-'111mgplate ,connected to the dog 24C beingsuitably proportioned' and recessed .to accommodate such' check. Y

I may also refer, in some instances, :to

.make the mach-ine" adjustable, 'so' that it mav se be enernteri'by'a sein of any desired donosti:

Edtion.' In igs. .Sand 9 of the drawings I have shown the controlling plate 39 adjust- .ab-1y connected to the' dog 2.4. As here. shown, said pla-tes pivoted to. the dog by .a 'suitable pivot 58 and is provided with a .70 locking screw 59, which may be made to engage either of the holes 60 or 6 1 in Said dog. vWhen the locking screw is in the hole 6.0., as showny in Fig. 8, a half 7dollar coin can bopushed ,under the controlling plate 39, .75 and a eoinof this size will be vrequired to operate thev machine. When 'the locking sorevv is vin the holebi, asrshovvn in Fig. 9, the machine can ble .operated by the insertion of a tyventylive cent piece. l 18.0

I have shown .the half dollar controlling plate 39 connected directly to the side. of a plate 62 that is `formedA integrally With the dog 24 (see Fig. 7 The twenty-.live

cent controlling plate 39 may also be conv8'5 to the plate 68, and extends beneath the dog 24;v l/Vth this construction the platel .63 and the controllingplate .39 that is operatedby the insertion jot the twenty-five cent piece 95 are not moved When the machine is operated bythe insertion. of aiifty-cent piece, as the ,dog 2l moves 'away from the plate 64,. which extends'under said dog. When, hoWever, a coin is inserted in thetyventydive cent coin vvay the plates 63 and .64 will be moved', and will lift the dog 24 out of engagement with the tooth 23 on the disk 22.

I' have shown in Figs. 'l1' and`12 apreferred construction for regulatingfthe size of the slot through the coin4 guard` 12. As hereshown a pin"65 Yis inserted through the end .Wall of the block andtheend of this pin coincides with the line of the coin slot in said block. The pin'may be movedin or 110 outand locked in any desired position by a`set-screW 6,6. By pushing the pin inward the slot is partly 'covered and the insertion of coins'above a desired diameter may be prevented. I alsoprefer to provide a laterally adjustable block 67 arranged to slide upon Ways .68 and having "an adjustings'crew 69. The edge of this block forms one of the side Walls of thecoin slot, and by adjusting the block 120 the width of the slot may be regulated and thereby the thickness oi' coins or checks that may be inserted, may be governed.

'It is sometimes desirable to register the 'number of coins that are put into the ma- 125 chine.v Where'a double machine `is used a counting device maybe arranged in connection with one or bothoi' the controlling plates- 39. In Fig. 13 of'the dlawiirs I have shown a entahle ,senator professie? errar-wed en ist top of the projection 13 on the covery and `arranged to be operated by a'pivoted dog or arm 71, connected to the controlling plate 39. Each time said controlling .plate is raised by the movement of a coin in the coin Way, the registeringV or counting device Will be operated. In this Way a record of the number of coins inserted can bemade;

It Will be noted that by having vthe` raised projection 13 on the top plate 10 into which the controlling plates 39 rise as the coins are pushed forward in the com Ways, I am en-w abled to bring the coin Ways and other parts of the mechanism close to the under side of the main part of said top plate 10.

lVhere the machine is made double, or with two sets of operating devices,`as shown, it Will not usually be necessary to provide the adjustable feature, either for the controlling plate 39 or for the guards 12 over the coin-receiving slots, but, as before explained, the machine may be made as a single machine, having a single coin-receiving slot, coin-controlling plate 39, and other parts. In this case it is desirable to have the adjustable features applied to the machine so that said machine may be arranged to be operated by a coin of one denomination and then Yso be adjusted so as to require a coin of another denomination.

It Will be obvious that the details of construction may he modified in many particulars Without departing from my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1.V In a turnstile controlling mechanism, the combination, With means for locking said mechanism, of a coin Way arranged to permit a coin to be moved edgeWise therein, a coin push plate arranged in said Way, a lever arranged to be operated independently of the turnstile for actuating said push plate, and a controlling plate connected with said locking means, and arranged to be moved to release said locking means by a suitable coin inserted in said coin Way and moved edgeWise against said controlling plate by the movement of said push plate.

2. In a turnstile controlling mechanism, the combination, With a rotatable shaft, of a star-Wheel mounted upon said shaft and arranged to be engaged by the turnstile, a disk upon said shaft provided With a series of ratchet teeth, a dog normally engaging one of said teeth and locking said disk against rotation, a controlling plate connected with said dog, a coin Way and a push plate arranged'to be moved manually, independently of the turnstile to move a coin placed in said Way against said controlling plate,v

whereby saidlocking dog ,Will be released, permitting the rotation of said disk and turnstile.

V3. In a turnstile controlling mechanism, the combinatiom, 'with means for locking said mechanism, of 'a coin way, means arranged in said way for moving a coin edge- Wise therein in a plane parallel to the face of the coin, a controlling plate connected with said locking meansand arrangedto be movedmanually, independently of the turnstile to release said locking means by engagement of the edge of a suitable coin inserted-in the coin Way and moved against said controlling plate, and lmeans for returning the parts to normal position after each operation.

4. In a turnstile controlling mechanism, the combination, With means for locking said mechanism, of a coin Way, means arranged in said Way for moving a coin therein in a plane parallel to the face of the coin, a controlling plate connected With said locking means and arranged to be moved manually, independently of the turnstile to release said locking means by the engagement of the edge of a suitable coin inserted in the.

coin Way and moved edgevvise against said controlling plate, and means for registering or counting the movement of said controlling plate.

5. In a turnstile controlling mechanism the combination, With means for locking said mechanism, of a coin Way, means arranged in said Way for moving a coin edge- Wise therein, and an adjustable controlling plate connected with said locking means, and arranged to be moved manually, independently of the turnstile to release said locking means by a suitable coin inserted in the coin Way and moved edgeWise against the controlling plate.

6. In a turnstile controlling mechanism, the combination With means for locking said mechanism, of a coin Way, an adjust-able guard controlling the passage of coins to said Way, means arranged in said Way to be moved manually, independently of the turnstile for moving a coin edgevvise therein, and a controlling plate connected With said locking means and arranged to be moved to release said locking means by a suitable coin inserted in the coin Way and moved edgewise against said controlling plate. l

7. In a turnstile controlling mechanism, the combination, With means for locking said mechanism, of a plurality of coin Ways, means arrangedin veach of said Ways to be moved manually, independently of the turnstile for moving a coin edgeWise therein, a controlling plate in each coin Way, and each `connected With saidV locking means and ar- Langen;

coingk :x lever foi', operatn-g sadpufsh--plgxteg and means for manually releasing said lever' 10 Y a; entrllng plate olmeeted with said-lock` and; returning the prts to normal pston. ngmeans and @menge/df to release .said 100k- In Witness Whereef, I have hereunto set mg mems by el'lgagement theewtt'l of the' my han@ this 27thy day 0f Augst, 1914. ed e of-:L suv-tableconuins'ert' lin t e, co11- f n Waf mid moved- ,edgewis'e Vagainstsad ch-V JOSEPH WILLIAM BATES trolling plate, meas QL' lool'xr'g thev levier,V Witnesses; Y whenmoved to Operate the push-plate With- K EDWARD A; PAUL,' out the insertion'l of a coin in tlie coin-Way; C; H. REHFUSS.

` thi #tiit obtai fer, fige tents each', .by addressing' the` iGeminiseionei'` of Iateyts,

sliington, D. C." 

